Slip-and-fall accidents can deal a devastating blow to your quality of life. When you are legally on a property, the property owner has an obligation to ensure that the area is free of hazards.
When property owners fail to meet this obligation and you’re injured as a result, they can be held accountable should you choose to bring a civil suit to recover the damages you incurred. This could cover your medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, emotional distress, loss of household services, and any damage to your potential future earnings.
There are many different causes of slip-and-fall accidents. To learn more about whether the conditions of your slip-and-fall warrant a personal injury claim against the negligent party, continue reading.
Dangerous Walking Surfaces
Probably the most common cause of slip-and-fall accidents is dangerous walking surfaces. Some frequent hazardous walking conditions include the following:
- Broken walkways
- Wet floors
- Unstable staircases
- Loose floorboards
An example of a slip-and-fall accident caused by a dangerous walking surface might involve a restaurant owner who is found liable for the damage caused when a patron slipped and fell on a freshly mopped floor that did not have a wet floor sign on display.
In most premises liability claims, the owner of the property will be found liable for your losses. Property owners have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their property before allowing guests to visit.
Nursing Home Abuse
You might be surprised to learn that one of the more frequent causes of slip-and-fall accidents is nursing home abuse.
The elderly often have problems with their balance, and when their trusted caregiver fails to protect them while walking through a caregiving facility or if the provider is being neglectful in some other way, the doctor, nurse, certified nurse assistant, or even the nursing home itself could be held accountable for the resulting damage.
For instance, if the nurse caring for a patient who has trouble walking is ignoring the patient’s need to use the restroom, the patient may attempt to make it to the bathroom on his or her own. That could easily end with a fall. For elderly people and others, slip-and-fall accidents can mean broken bones, spine damage, head injuries, and many more injuries.
A victim in such a situation would have the opportunity to file a premises liability claim.
Weather Conditions
No one can control the weather, but property owners can control the safety of their invited guests who will be exposed to the dangers of poor weather conditions. In New England, we frequently see heavy rain, snow, and ice at various points of the year. That puts us at risk for slip-and-fall accidents.
For instance, let’s say you were on your way to grocery shop. It snowed the night before, and you slip and fall on an ice patch right outside the door of the grocery store and are injured. The store workers, as well as the owner of the store, had a duty to de-ice the premises before opening for the day. In this case, you could file a claim for damages.
Speak with a Boston Slip-and-Fall Lawyer
If you were recently injured in a slip-and-fall accident and are interested in filing a premises liability claim against the at-fault party, get in touch with an experienced Boston slip-and-fall lawyer at Joel H. Schwartz, PC today.
Our firm will do what it takes to secure the compensation you need to recover without the burden of financial insecurity. You can schedule your no-obligation claim assessment by giving our office a call at 1-800-660-2270 or filling out the convenient contact form at the bottom of this page.